| Idaho is important as an agricultural state, | | | | |
| producing potatoes, barley and other crops. | | | | Boise has been recognized as an |
| It has also become a center of hi-tech and | | | | environmentally friendly city, which in the |
| computer production in the United States, | | | | month of May has a week of activities |
| good things to know if you are attempting to | | | | celebrating bike week. These events will |
| start your Idaho Incorporation. There is | | | | culminate in a pedal power parade. Boise is |
| still a good deal of food processing and | | | | located in Southwestern Idaho, and has a |
| processing of lumber and wood products as | | | | population of almost 200,000. It has long |
| well as other traditional industries. In | | | | been a center of timber and other raw |
| addition, since the 1950s, eastern Idaho has | | | | materials industries. Now, it is also a |
| been home of the Idaho National Laboratory, a | | | | center of hi-tech industry, with large |
| facility for nuclear energy research. The | | | | manufacturing and office complexes of Micron, |
| state is not as cold as it might be supposed | | | | makers of computer chips and Hewlett-Packard, |
| to be, since a good deal of its weather is | | | | a maker of scanners and printers. The city is |
| moderated by the Pacific Ocean several | | | | located on the Boise River, a center of |
| hundred miles a way. Idaho is a paradise for | | | | fishing, swimming and boating. |
| outdoor activities including skiing and | | | | |
| hunting, with several National Parks in and | | | | Further up in Central Idaho is the world |
| around the state, including Yellowstone | | | | famous ski resort, Sun Valley. Bald Mountain, |
| National Park. Grizzly bears and wolves are | | | | going up over 9000 feet is a world renowned |
| some of the wildlife of the region along with | | | | site for alpine skiing, and the whole area is |
| moose, deer, goats and sheep. If you plan to | | | | a hang-out for the rich and powerful from |
| do any hunting you have to get a state | | | | across the United States. |
| hunting permit for the various hunting | | | | |
| seasons. | | | | Coeur D'Alene in the northern part of Idaho |
| | | | is a picturesque city known for its excellent |
| Idaho's industrial economy is growing, with | | | | golf courses. |
| high-tech products leading the way. Since the | | | | |
| late 1970s, Boise has emerged as a center for | | | | Lewiston, on the northwest border of Idaho is |
| semiconductor manufacturing. Boise is the | | | | connected to the Snake River system, and can |
| home of Micron Technology Inc., the only U.S. | | | | receive ocean-going vessels, making it |
| manufacturer of dynamic random access memory | | | | Idaho's only port connected to the ocean. |
| (DRAM) chips. Hewlett-Packard has operated a | | | | Idaho Falls, in the southeastern portion of |
| large plant in Boise, in southwestern Idaho | | | | the state, is home to the Nation Reactor |
| and Dell, Inc. operates a major customer | | | | Testing Station, a facility run by the Atomic |
| support call center in Twin Falls. There is a | | | | Energy Commission, also known as the Idaho |
| state sales tax and income tax, and higher | | | | National Laboratory. In this region of Idaho, |
| taxes on hotel and other tourist | | | | there is one of the world's largest |
| accommodation. Idaho has become a center for | | | | concentrations of potato production and also |
| ski resorts, starting with the | | | | of barley for beer. |
| internationally known Sun Valley. | | | | |